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Early education in Louisiana takes on a new shape

Act 3 was passed in the 2012 legislative session and the pilot began this year.

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Updated: 6:51 AM CDT Aug 5, 2013

Early education in Louisiana takes on a new shape

Act 3 was passed in the 2012 legislative session and the pilot began this year.

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Updated: 6:51 AM CDT Aug 5, 2013

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WEBVTT TWO WEEK SERIES: BACK TOSCHOOL. LETTING YOU KNOW WHAT'SCHANGED IN AREASCHOOLS AND ALSO GIVING YOU TIPSTO MAKE SURE YOURCHILDREN ARE READY TO HEAD BACKTO CLASS. EARLY EDUCATIONIN LOUISIANA IS TAKING ON A NEWSHAPE. "ACT 3" PASSED IN THE2012 LEGISLATIVE SESSION--ANDTHE PILOT BEGAN THIS YEAR...CURRENTLY EARLY EDUCATION ISFRAGMENTED -- SO "ACT 3" WILLTRYTO BRING THEM ALL UNDER AUNIFORM STANDARD. WDSUANCHOR SULA KIM EXPLAINS HOW THEPROGRAM WILL AFFECT YOURCHILD'S PRE-K OR EARLY EDUCATIONPROGRAMS.1:45:31 we are on board withthis we are excited about this1:45:36 KRISTI GIVENS, DIRECTOROF "KIDS OF EXCELLENCE "ATTENDED THE FIRST PILOT MEETINGFOR "ACT 3". HER CENTERWAS PICKED TO PARTICIPATE, ALONGWITH SEVERAL OTHERPUBLICLY FUNDED EARLY EDUCATIONPROGRAMS LIKE "HEAD START" ANDPRE-K 1:48:06 so they're askingus what do we feel what do weneed1:48:10 RIGHT NOW IN LOUISIANA,EARLY EDUCATION IS A FRAGMENTEDSYSTEM, WITH DIFFERENTGUIDELINES. ACT 3 AIMS TO BRINGTHEM ALL UNDER ONEUMBRELLA...WITH A COMMONSTANDARD,SO KIDS ARE ON THE SAMEPAGE WHEN THEY ENTERKINDERGARTEN. ONE WAY "ACT 3"PLANS TO RAISE THE BAR ISTHROUGH LETTER GRADEASSESSMENTS. HERE'S HOW...ONE: TEACHERS WILL OBSERVE THECHILD OVER A PERIOD OF TIME,AND ANALYZE THEIR GROWTH. ANDTWO: A THIRD PARTY WOULDCOME IN AND OBSERVETEACHER-CHILD INTERACTION.BASED ON THE DATA GATHERED, ALETTER GRADE WOULD BE ISSUED.BUT HOW THAT GRADE WILL BECOMPUTED--HAS NOT BEENDECIDED YET. 1:56:26 we hopethe state will be wise in theway we createthe grade in other words notjust what's A, B, and C, butwhat will create that A1:56:43 there needs to be othercomponents that arecomputed in making that gradeMELANIE BRONFIN IS WITH THEPOLICY INSTITUTE AND A STRONGADVOCATE OF EARLY EDUCATION. SHESAYS OTHERFACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDEREDINTO THE ASSESSMENT, LIKESTUDENT TEACHER RATIOS. AND SHEFEELS TEACHERDEVELOPMENT IS CRITICAL IF THISPLAN IS TO SUCCEED. 1:57:53it's not just about do we havemasters level teachers, do weeven have teachers who have anyunderstanding ofchild development who can thenuse these assessments to improvequalityTHOSE ARE ALL QUESTIONS STILLBEING ANSWERED. STATE EDUCATIONLEADERS ARE IN THE PROCESS OFCOMING UP WITH THE BESTFRAMEWORK, BUT A FEW PARTS ARESTILL UNDETERMINED.1:59:19 our fear is if weimplement too quickly withoutappropriate funding andinfrastructure and support thenwe won't be able to achieve theoutcomes wewant to achieve BRONFIN APPLAUDSTHE VISION OF ACT 3....SHE JUSTHOPE THE GRADING SYSTEM WILL BEFAIR ...AND TEACHERSARE GIVEN THE RIGHT TOOLS FORSUPPORT. ON YOUR SIDE SULAKIM WDSU NEWS.THERE WILL BE SOME MORE MEETINGSUNTIL "ACT 3"OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES IN2015-2016. THE STATE GAVE 350THOUSAND DOLLARS IN GRANT MONEYFOR THE PILOT. PRE-KPROGRAMS IN 15 PARISHESPARTICIPATED IN THE MEETINGSINCLUDING ORLEANS, AND ST.TAMMANY PARISH.AND WE'RE ON YOUR SIDE THISMORNING AS YOU PREPARE TO GETTHE KIDS READY TO GO BACK TOSCHOOL. TODAY'S TOPIC HEALTH.GO AHEAD AND SCHEDULE DOCTOR ANDDENTALCHECKUPS EARLY BEFORE SCHOOLSTARTS. MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDIS UP TO DATE ON ANYVACCINATIONS THEY MAY NEEDBEFORE HEADING BACK TO SCHOOLALSO, TAKE THIS TIME TO DISCUSSWITH YOUR PEDIATRICIAN ANYCONCERNS YOU HAVE OVER YOURCHILD'S EMOTIONAL ORPSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT.THIS WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTANDWHETHER YOU CHILD IS JUSTGOING THROUGH A PHASE OR IF ITIS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO BECONCERNED ABOUT.AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE ON YOURSIDE AS YOU GET THECHILDREN READY TO GO BACK TOSCHOOL. OUR TWO WEEK LONGSERIES ON WDSU NEWS THIS MORNINGCONTINUESTOMORROW MORNING. TOMORROW,WE'LL TAKE A LOOK ATHOW A NEWLY RENOVATED BUILDINGWILL BE WAITING FORSTUDENTS AT ONE NEW ORLEANSSCHOOL. AN INSIDE LOOK ATTHE NEW DIGS TOMORROW AS WE HEADBACK TO SCHOOL ON WDSUNEWS THIS MORNING.

Early education in Louisiana takes on a new shape

Act 3 was passed in the 2012 legislative session and the pilot began this year.